Iiyama ProLite XB2776QS review

A high-res IPS screen with great image quality. But at a price

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For

Excellent image quality

Smooth screen coating

2,560x1440 resolution

Reduced IPS 'glow'

Against

Price

Luckily for Iiyama's latest 27-incher we weren't expecting anything terribly special when we unpacked it, so its awesome image quality adds an extra dimension. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just what are we dealing with, here?

On paper, it's all very familiar. 27 inches. IPS technology. 16:9 ratio. 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. And an LED backlight. Nothing out of the ordinary. At least, not for a premium 27-inch panel. Except this 27-inch high-res segment has been given a makeover with a new generation of panels.

That's not to say that the old gen was bad - they were among the best looking monitors vaguely sensible money could buy - but this Iiyama is one of a new batch of 27-inch panels that directly addresses two of the worst shortcomings of previous models.

Smooth operator

First up is a smoother, cleaner and less sparkly anti-glare coating. Quite why the earlier models had such horrid anti-glare coatings we have no idea, but it looked a little like someone had gone over the panel surface with fine-grain sand paper. No longer. The ProLite's surface is as smooth as, well, something really quite impressively smooth.

The other issue is something known as IPS glow. It basically boils down to a bit of backlight leakage that can be seen from certain angles as a bright glow over dark tones. As you move your vantage point, so the glow shifts over the screen's surface. Not a deal breaker, but we're pleased to say it's been minimised if not eradicated with this newest IPS screen.

Then there's the excellent quality of the backlight, which is super clean and super white. Combine that with the smooth anti-glare coating and tight pixel pitch and you have a screen that's impossibly clear and crisp. It's an absolute delight to use.

The colours are vivid without being oversaturated, too. As for our test scales, rarely have we seen such detail and accuracy in both blacks and whites. It's exceptionally well calibrated.

Short of perfection

Is it perfect? No. Samsung's 9 Series and its PLS panel offer better horizontal viewing angles, for instance, and even this latest generation of IPS tech can't match PVA panels when it comes to generating deep, inky blacks.

Pixel response is another relative weak area compared with the zippiest of TN panels, but it's hardly sluggish and doesn't detract significantly from the ProLite as either a gaming or movie machine.

In terms of features, this is a pretty straightforward panel. It has a dynamic contrast mode, a comprehensive array of DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA connections, and the stand offers the full set of tilt, rotate, swivel and height adjustments, but as for more trinkety features like 3D, ambient lighting, motion sensors and the like, there's nothing to be found.

This screen is all about image quality, albeit it at a price. The only major snag is that Viewsonic's VP2770-LED offers something awfully similar for a little bit less.

Tech Specs

Product Type

LCD Monitor

Number of Screens

1

HDCP Supported

Yes

Green Compliant

Yes

Green Compliance Certificate/Authority

TCO Certified Displays 6.0, ENERGY STAR

HDMI

Yes

Backlight Technology

LED

VESA Mount Compatible

Yes

DVI

Yes

VGA

Yes

DisplayPort

Yes

Adjustable Display Angle

Yes

Product Family

ProLite

Colour

Black

Brightness

350 cd/m², 350 cd/m²

Screen Mode

WQHD

Colour Support

16.77 Million Colors

Maximum Resolution

2560 x 1440

Brand Name

iiyama

Contrast Ratio

1,000:1

Screen Size

68.6 cm (27")

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Response Time

5 ms

Speakers

Yes

Built-in Devices

Speaker

Operating Power Consumption

43 W

Height

565 mm

Width

644 mm

Depth

249.5 mm

Manufacturer

iiyama North America, Inc

Product Model

XB2776QS

Product Name

ProLite XB2776QS 27" LCD Screen with Ultra-high Resolution

Product Line

ProLite

Manufacturer Part Number

XB2776QS-B1

Manufacturer Website Address

http://www.iiyama.co.uk

Marketing Information

The XB2776QS is not just a large monitor. This LCD with LED-backlit display features a massive QHD 2560x1440 resolution with IPS technology. Due to these outstanding features it offers a very high performance with accurate and consistent colour reproduction, colour fidelity, contrast and fast response time. An array of inputs including HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI and VGA connections ensure compatibility across a range of devices. The XB2776QS comes with a Height Adjustable stand and is able to pivot, a function that is made even more effective by the wide viewing angles of 178° / 178° and almost no off-angle colour shift.